Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-11-05
THE METROPOLITAN CLERK,
How He Lives and What he Does.
the ms and Outs of Such IN. =.
viewed by Journal Correspondent
Especial Correspondence of Kennebec
Jnnrnal l

| Especial Correspondence of Kennebec
Journal. I
remember that often, standing On the
corner OF the street in my native town. Ibave
seen some old friend or acquaintance homo
on his vacation of week or ION dave d,o...,
a. II ne were some wealthy metropolitan. II
'iieh seemed to me that the life of a city clerk
must be something magnificent. I have
known more about it since. You can't tell
now much a man is worth. nor how bannv he
Is by the way he dresses. Almost any man
may seem wealthy for a week if he spends ALL
the money then that he can save in wear.
| for his first year the average city clerk gets
from ~ to 81 a week, or if he is compelled
70 support himself, enough to pay his board,
ana the promise of a '-rise next year" The
next year he may get dollar a week more
and finally, after he has worked from three
to five years, he may get from IS to sla a
week, or if he be an extra good hand he NAV
IN time get from SIS to sIS a week. But
these last prices are reserved for favored
Few When the clerk has reached these last
figures he is on his topmost financial round
He may feel most fortunate. if at the end of
three years he receives 50 or $40 a week. If
clerk fails to make success within a wear
or two he is then discharged by his emplover
| for better one
How He LIVES
a clerk cannot be said to live elegantly
VI course it is necessary for him, if he en-
tlreiy, or in a great measure, supports him
self, to get quarters within the means of his
income. But while his wages are low. he will
find to his disappointment that board is COM
paratively high Desirable quarters may
perhaps be secured for from s. TO SO a week.
But is possible for him to get them for per-
haps 81 week. Other necessary expenses
will net Is cents week. The clerk gets a
little back room under the roof or in the
''sky parlor," as it is more facetiously called
Just large enough for bed, commode, a
bureau, and chair or two. To the unso-
phisticated imagination it may seem desira-
bic place to pass ones time; but the reality
is far different In the winter the room is
too cold, in the summer it is too hot, and at
all times it is too bare and lonesome For
table board he must not expect to get what he
has been accustomed to at home, no matter
how humble that dwelling may have been. 1t
always has boarding house flavor; and if it
is low rate place he had better accustom
himself to wear colored glasses at the table
IL. IL.
pcnses the clerk can hardly expect to have
much spending money nor many elegant
things. He must limit himself in every di-
rection. He must school himself to dress
cheaply and ride in the horse ears seldom.
The advantages of great city which he has
perhaps thought so much about, and so much
desired rapidly recede under this rigid
financial scrutiny.
If the clerk is at work in a store which
keeps open in the evening, his hours will
probably be from about in the morning till
about 8 or ten at night, or perhaps he may be
so fortunate Cor unfortunate, as the case may
be- to have his evenings to himself. His
work will be mechanical, and at first his posi-
ton will be insignificant He is not the i'm
portant factor which clerk in a country
store is. but, considered individually, as a
single piece in the entire fabric, he is as I'M
important as the cobble stone he kicks from
the sidewalk In all large establishments the
work Is laid out with exact regularity, and to
each one is assigned certain and definite
/ oil IL, min
There is opportunity neither for mental
development nor for the exercise of the
judgment.
| happened to be in large retail store the
other night Just as they were closing. A
bell struck Immediately each clerk went
to work as if he were a minute part in some
large machine, as indeed be was. Each
clerk put in order and covered from the dust
his own department. Then small boy
appeared from somewhere with pail of wet
bran which he threw over the floor. Then
each clerk seized broom and swept his de
partment and all finishing about the same
time they swept the dirt down the main isles
together to the rear of the store. Then each
one put on his things went out. and the store
was closed. 1t was all done with the regu-
larity of clock work.
This is only sample of how everything is
done in all large business establishments
If clerk is faithful and capable he may
at the end of from three to five years find
himself promoted TO the highest round to
which as "A clerk he can attain. But to do
this he must attend strictly to his business.
His spare minutes he must devote to learning
details which will not come directly under
his department
If clerk has to work evenings he finds
little time for himself, but if his work closes
at six, ii is quite question with him how to
pass.
HIS LEISURE Hours.
have asked number of clerks what they
were accustomed to do with this spare time
which was on their hands, and they all an
swered practically alike. While their salary
was so small that they could go to no place
which cost money, they passed their evenings
either in taking walks or in wandering about
the streets of the city. 1t is impossible for
one to stay in his room all by himself, and
when the weather is too cold to be out of
doors. they pick up warmth and company
where they can find it. For when ones work
is through for the day he is usually too tired
to sit down and read or study.
Then when the clerk has become acquaint-
ed somewhat. and his salary has been raised
for he must dress to get into society--he
goes to card parties attends private dancing
school aud goes to the theatre. But whatever
he does must be of sensational nature.
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